Matthew 8:26
Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Continue reading
Peace
Memorable Scripture: Messianic Peace
Isaiah 11:6-8
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
Their young ones shall lie down together;
And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,
And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.” Continue reading
Memorable Scripture: Attic dweller
Proverbs 21:9
Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. Continue reading
Memorable Scripture: What is said about you?
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 1 Kings 22:18 Continue reading
Memorable Scripture: Loving God – better than you imagine.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Continue reading
Peace
I don’t like conflict. Indeed, the thought of it causes me to become physically ill. Or, more likely, the anxiety of it causes my illness. (Yes, be anxious for nothing… I know)
Like you I want peace in my life. Continue reading
Everyday Peace!
No one wants a fair weather friend. You want someone that will stick by your side in good times and especially the bad; someone that will be there for you when you are at your lowest.
The Lord deserved no less. Continue reading
Fruit of the Spirit
Gal 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Over the weekend we had the Fruit of the Spirit VBS. During the first song I remember someone saying, “That’s what I need; self-control!”
My response was you start with love!
The fruit of the Spirit is a staircase.
What you will need first is love! You cannot have kindness or gentleness without it. You can’t have joy or peace if you have hate.
Love is the key – the first step to the fruit of the Spirit.
Self-control is last on the list. Before you will attain it completely you will have to have things like patience, faithfulness, and gentleness. Self-control is not possible without them.
The great thing is the fruit of the Spirit is not dependent on others. You can have it without any help and despite any opposition. It’s all about your personal relationship and availability to the Holy Spirit.
John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Abba, I want to be an orchard of good fruit for You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN
Do not be afraid!
Abram’s concern over 4 different military forces seeking revenge is soothed by God Himself.
Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
God first told Abram, “Do not be afraid!”
There are several things that can bring on fear.
Sin can bring fear. After sinning in the Garden of Eden Adam hid in the bushes because he was afraid! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:31
Meeting God with sin on your hands is a fearful thing.
The unknown can cause fear. Not knowing what tomorrow holds. Not knowing what is in the closet or not knowing what animal is growling in the dark. David said,
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4
Though he did not know what was lying ahead or what was unseen in the shadow.
Fear can also be caused by doubt. If a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain then I think a mustard seed of doubt can keep it there.
The night Jesus came walking on the water only one man had the faith to get out of the boat – Peter!
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink. Matt 14:30
He did the impossible but then doubted and became afraid that he could not do it.
Any fear you have doesn’t come from God.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7
Maybe your response is you are afraid of snakes, spiders, or swimming at the beach.
That’s not fear, it’s just common sense. It is best to have respect for those things.
A Christian should never be afraid of spiritual matters.
Abba, with You I have no fear. You give peace. You give life. You give comfort. In Jesus’ name, I receive that! YES&AMEN
Already Victorious
With only 318 trained servants, Abram had a great victory over four kings. That victory may have been short-lived as the reality of revenge from those kingdoms set in.
How embarrassing to be sent home running by a seemingly inferior force. There was a good chance that the kings or their families would look to return and teach Abram a lesson.
But Abram is a man of faith and God came and reassured him in a great way.
Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
You, also, have an enemy and your relationship with Jesus has put him on the run. He would like nothing more than to seek revenge on you – to destroy your testimony or worse, make your turn your back on God.
What God said to Abram is the same words He would say to you – do not be afraid. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward!
Have faith in His assurance that He is already victorious over the adversary. Satan is absolutely powerless against the blood of Jesus.
Abba Father, I do have times I feel victorious. And then the enemy tries to knock my feet out from under me. My deepest desire is to keep my eyes on You and not worry about the enemy. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 